The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-21
sEEcHER's IRREGULARITIES.
His Person Described and Many Of
his pecuIiaritles Recalled.

Had the world to-day a record of the mere
physical appearance of Shakespeare it would
doubtless prove exceedingly interesting. And
though, through the press and the photograph
as well as the recent presence of the subject
of this sketch in many parts ofhis own coun-
try, and in England, his physical peculiari-
ties are well known, it may not be superfu-
Gus to note them here. Aside from his face
Mr.. Beecher would not have attracted mark
ed attention in crowd, writes Mr.. Beecher's
physician in the North American Review.
His figure was short and compact. Although
but five feet eight inches in height, his
weight for several years had averaged about
two hundred and twenty-five pounds. But
his flesh was so well distributed that he did
not appear clumsy or obese His carriag
was erect and noble. His complexion wac
iorid, and his smoothly face and
white locks finely contrasted with it. His
hair was somewhat thin, but to the last it
fully covered his head. 1t was allowed to
grow TO the collar, and was swept behind the
ears. His head was not extraordinary in
size, measuring only thirty-three inches in
circumfreuce, but his massive face and feat
nres gave it an appearance of greater bulk.
His forehead was rather retreatng than
bold, except that the brow was full. His
eyes were prominent and seemed large.
They were grayIsh blue in color, and so per-
feet were these organs as to require no arti-
fetal aid, even for protracted work. The
upper lids were full and Overhanging-a
formation which has been noted as charac-
teristic of many distinguished orators, and
actors. His nose bore a fair proportion to
the rest of his features, and presented no
marked peculiarly Of form. His mouth was
large, and the lips neither full nor thin.
They closed firmly The cheeks were full,
quite remarkably so beneath the ears, which
latter organs were well formed and set far
back upon the head. The chin was some
what square, and gave determined look to
his face. His expression was exceedingly
varied. Never was there a more mobile
c0untenance, nor one that more quickly and
decisiyely responded to every emotion.
Numerous photographs of him exist, but
no two afford the same expression. His
neck was large and short The chest was
full and capable of great expansion. His di-
gestion was uniformly good and afforded
him plentiful supply of generous blood,
without which the functions performed by
his brain would have been largely inhibited.
The blood-vessels of his entire frame were
extraordinarily capacious for man Of his
temperament. This latter might be classed
rs mixture of the Emphatic and the SAN
guine, with a dash of the nervous. The ar
teries and veins of his scalp were nearly
double in size of those of an ordinary man,
and If one might judge from the GOODNESS Of
UlS tAbltlHibltS Ia COIL
slant and often distressing phenomenon) it
would seem probable that those of his brain
were correspOndingy large. In his habits
he was very regular and temperate. He ear
ly ascertained what was hurtful and what
beneficial to him, and he carefully cOnfOrmed
to the latter. This he did, not from selfish
concern for his comfort only, but, as is well
known by his intimates, because he would
not sacrifice on the altar of appetite what be-
longed to his duties as minister of Christ.
No man brought his body under" to use the
words Of st. Pan, more vigorously and vigil
lantly than he.
He was lmmoderate only in sleep. This he
must, and would, and did obtain in generous
proportion. In the full tide of work an after
noon siesta was always insisted upon
OF gems he was passi0nately fond He
was accustomed to say that they afforded
him the same kind Of pleasure that he de-
the latter in that they were fadeless Their
purity and color had never satiating charm
for him. Thousands of dollars he iayished
upon them. His yellow diamand, of the pur-
est canary color, has European pedigree
and history.
Not a stone with which st. John has en-
bellished the walls of the Holy City was mis-
sing from his collection. 1t is doubtful if he
was ever without unset gems in his pockets,
which be would often exhibit for his own de-
location or that of his friends. He haunted
the shops of jewellers, and often borrowed
from them gems of great value in which he
fairly reyeled with delight. He took the
greatest pleasure in those of richest and most
gorgeous hues, the ruby, the opal, the car
buncle, the emerald, &c. Indeed color, its
shades and combinations, whether in nature
or art, appeared to engage his fancy rather
than form, although to perfection in this re-